Lightweight video cassette cartridge

Abstract

A lightweight, limited use video cassette cartridge that performs all of the needed functions of permanent-use video cassette cartridges, but comprises only eight parts, all made of thin gauge, recyclable synthetic resin material. The lightweight video cassette cartridge includes a top panel and a bottom panel which are mated to form the cartridge shell, a supply reel and a take-up reel rotatably mounted within the cartridge shell, a novel structure for maintaining the position of the reels within the cartridge while in use, leader tape for attaching the recorded video tape to the reels, two pieces of low coefficient Teflon tape, and a removable dust cover to protect the exposed video tape. The cartridge weighs less than 1.3 ounces when completely assembled and can be recycled without removing parts.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lightweight video cassette cartridge for holding and dispensing video tape for use in a video cassette recorder/player, comprising: a cartridge shell including a top panel and a bottom panel which mate to form said shell;   a supply reel and a take-up reel rotatably mounted within said cartridge shell and configured for receiving and winding video tape, said reels being subject to an upward force from the video cassette recorder/player which tends to push the reels out of alignment, said reels being further subjected to the upward creeping of the video tape during winding of the reels;   a plurality of concave depressions integrally formed in said top panel for maintaining the alignment and position of said reels and for preventing the creeping of the video tape on said reels.   
     
     
       2. The video cassette cartridge as set forth in claim 1, including a pair of said concave depressions, wherein said depressions extend inwardly from said top panel towards said reels, said depression being configured to exert an opposing downward force on said reels when subjected to the upward force delivered by the video cassette recorder/player. 
     
     
       3. The video cassette cartridge as set forth in claim 2 further including a plurality of reinforcing ribs integrally molded in said top panel concentrically surrounding said concave depressions, wherein said reinforcing ribs are configured to add structural rigidity to said concave depressions. 
     
     
       4. The video cassette cartridge as set forth in claim 2, said top and bottom panels, said reels and said concave depressions being thermoformed of thin gauge synthetic resin material. 
     
     
       5. A lightweight video cassette cartridge for holding and dispensing video tape for use in a video cassette recorder/player, comprising: a shell including a top panel and a bottom panel that mate to form the shell, the bottom panel including a pair of spaced holes;   a supply reel and a take-up reel for receiving and winding video tape, the supply and take-up reels each including a hollow drum including a first open end and an opposed closed end, and an annular flange extending outward from the drum at the first open end;   well defining means formed in the bottom panel around the holes for defining wells within which the supply and take-up reels are supported for rotation relative to the shell; and   a biasing means for biasing the reels into the wells toward the bottom panel and for maintaining the first open ends of the reel drums in alignment with the holes in the bottom panel, the biasing means including a pair of depressions formed in the top panel in alignment with the holes in the bottom panel, wherein each depression presents a circular bearing surface that engages the closed end of one of the reels.